Los Angeles, California — On January 2, 2023 around 3:30 p.m., LAPD Rampart Patrol Division officers responded to a radio call of a “Violation of Restraining Order” at an apartment building in the 200 block of South Witmer Street. When officers arrived, they located the victim, who provided a valid restraining order and told officers the suspect was inside of an apartment unit. The officers requested additional units, a supervisor, and formulated a tactical plan. The officers conducted a follow up to the apartment to investigate the restraining order violation. The officers met the suspect, 45-year-old Takar Smith, at the front door to the apartment unit and began a dialogue, attempting to get him to exit into the hallway and surrender.
Smith refused to exit and became increasingly agitated, prompting officers to employ de-escalation tactics for an extended period. Smith went to the kitchen and armed himself with a large knife and officers deployed two Tasers and pepper spray. The less lethal options initially caused Smith to drop the knife on the floor; however, he immediately picked up the knife, raised it above his head, and an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) occurred. Two officers fired their guns for a total of seven shots. Smith was pronounced deceased at scene.
No officers, victims, or bystanders were injured during this incident. A large knife (approximately10-inch butcher style) was recovered at the scene and booked as evidence.
